Bafana’s tipping point
SA must beat their nemesis to ensure they play in Afcon
● Mark Anderson remembers the first Bafana Bafana encounter against Nigeria as if it was yesterday — yet it’s been exactly 26 years and 31 days today.
The former Bafana shot-stopper, like all his teammates who were greenhorns in international football at that time, had a terrible game in Surulele Stadium, in Lagos, as Nigeria thrashed the South Africans 4-0 in a World Cup qualifier.
“It was a very hard game,” said Anderson, who was christened Lesilo (the Ghost) by his adoring Mamelodi Sundowns fans in his heyday.
“I remember seeing the Nigerian players in the tunnel before kick-off. Their physical appearance was something else compared to us who were just starting out in international football.
“Nigeria just basically played us off the park that day. Those players looked like superman. They totally outplayed us and I think that was part of our huge learning curve,” said the 56year-old Anderson of the match in which he conceded three secondhalf goals, one by Samson Siasia and a brace by the late legendary striker Rashidi Yekini after Richard Owubokiri had opened the scoring in the 33rd minute.
“We had a very good side and I think the majority of those players went on to form the nucleus of the team that went on to win the Afcon in 1996 after having had that experience with Nigeria,” said Anderson.
Sadly, like many South African fans who have lost interest in Bafana because of their poor performances in recent years, Anderson says he’s no longer following Bafana with keen interest these days.
“I still very much enjoy watching our local football — also because my son (Mark Jnr, also a goalkeeper) is up and coming at Cape Town City. But I must confess that I just lost interest in Bafana.
“It’s just that nothing really gets better (with Bafana) and it’s difficult to explain but it’s just not like when you had Shoes (Moshoeu), Mark Fish and Doctor Khumalo.
“The current team lacks those special players. I hate trying to put my finger on it or blaming people. I can’t tell you what the problem is.”
One game though that Anderson won’t miss is the return leg of the Afcon qualifier between Bafana and Nigeria at the FNB Stadium on Saturday.
Goals by Tokelo Rantie and Percy Tau gave Bafana a surprise 2-0 victory over the Super Eagles in their first competitive win against the Nigerians in the first game for coach Stuart Baxter in his second stint with the team.
“I certainly won’t miss watching the Nigeria/Bafana game,” said Anderson, who runs a plumbing company in Cape Town, a business he inherited from his father.
Bafana got a big boost to their winning chances against the Super Eagles when their opponents’ danger man, Odion Ighalo, was ruled out of Saturday’s match with a hamstring injury.
Ighalo, who plays for Changchun Yatia in the Chinese Super League, is the top scorer with six goals in the Afcon qualifiers. Those goals include the five he scored in two matches against Libya.
Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr, who sees Tau as Bafana’s man to watch on Saturday, has replaced Ighalo with Henry Onyekuru of Turkish giants Galatasaray.
The Super Eagles will also be without suspended defender Wilfred Ndidi and injured central midfielder Ogenyi Onazi and goalkeeper Francis Ozoho.
Bafana must win on Saturday to ensure they qualify for next year’s Afcon in Cameroon, and Nigeria need just one point.
Stadium Management SA MD Bertie Grobbelaar said he will know tomorrow how many tickets have been sold for the Bafana/Nigeria tie.